Ten Islamic, mostly Central Asian nations met in Afghanistan
to push their aim of slashing tariffs and freeing up
trade in the region once spanned by the Silk Road.
Afghanistan, after decades of war and
occupation, told the Economic Cooperation Organisation
(ECO) it hoped to become a "land bridge,"
revitalising the ancient trade route that linked Europe
and the Far East.
The ECO groups Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which together
make up six percent of the world population, according
to the organisation.
Integration of the 10 ECO nations was
essential to build up trade in the region, Afghan Commerce
Minister Hedayet Amin Arsala told ministers, officials
and other delegates at the two-day meeting in Kabul.
"It is only through regional cooperation
and greater economic integration that we will be able
to use the enormous resources that we have in the region
for the betterment of the lives of our people,"
he said.
The Afghan government wanted to establish
"an open trade regime which would allow Afghanistan
to capitalise on its position as a land bridge between
the Central and South Asian region," he said.
Afghanistan has the lowest tariffs
among the 10 countries -- on average just over four
percent -- compared to Pakistan's tariffs of up to 120
percent.
Members had committed to cutting tariffs
to no more than 10 percent within 10 to 15 years, although
some items may be exempt, said Afghanistan Investment
Support Agency vice president Suleman Fatimie, an organiser
of the meeting.
Central Asia's proximity to rapidly
growing markets such as China and India made clear the
rationale for cooperation, said Asian Development Bank
Afghanistan head Brian Fawcett.
The transit of goods through the region
was still hampered, with truckers and traders facing
daily road closures and border restrictions, he said.
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